Sampson AFB Vets Assoc

The site of the Sampson Veteran's Cemetery is located at the former Sampson United States Naval and Air Force Base, which served as a naval training station during World War II and was later used as an Air Force Basic Training Center, constructed in 1942, Sampson trained over 400,000 naval recruits during its years of operation. Sailors trained at Sampson fought and participated in every major battle of World War II. During the Korean War, the property, was converted to the Sampson Air Force Base, and over 300,000 airmen received their basic training there from 1950 until 1956. The Sampson Memorial Naval Museum and Air Force Museum are currently located at the site.

All honorably discharged veterans and their spouses will be eligible for burial at the Sampson Veterans Cemetery. The guidelines for the cemetery will be based on federal veteran cemetery standards. This will include opening and closing of the graves, perpetual upkeep and maintenance, government headstone or marker, burial flag and presidential certificate.

CEMETERY UPDATE

Submitted by Tom Kirk

As you drive south on Route 96A from routes 5 and 20 or north from Ovid, NY, you will be driving on Sampson Veterans Memorial Highway. Yes, the state has approved changing Route 96A to Sampson Veterans Memorial Highway in conjunction with the proposed Sampson Memorial Cemetery.

You will come to the old Sampson Hospital entrance, which is going to be turned into a beautiful gateway to the Sampson Memorial Cemetery. There will be a sign and a wall built on each side of the highway leading into the cemetery. The road will be a double lane road with a median in the center. As you approach the cemetery you will come to the original Guard House built by the Navy in 1942 and used by the Air Force from 1950 to 1956. The Guard House will be renovated and used as an information center.

If you go to the right of the information center, you will come to the Memorial Brick Roadway with service flags on both sides of the road. Bricks may be purchased to help defray the cost of the cemetery. The cost to purchase a brick has yet to be determined.

If you go to the left of the information center you will come to the renovated Fire Station, which will be used as a chapel. The six windows in the back of the Fire Station will be replaced with stained glass windows representing the six services to include the Merchant Marines. It is also planned to install office space and rest rooms.

Another building to be renovated is the Hospital Area Brigg. The Brigg is brick and is in fairly good condition, however what it will be used for has yet to be determined.

This is just a small overview of the future if everything goes according to plan. They are aiming to open the cemetery during the middle of 2010.

Some of the costs have been determined and they are: Veterans will be buried for nothing, spouses will cost $900.00 and cremation will cost $400.00. There will be a form to fill out and a copy of your DD-214 must be attached.

To keep up-to-date on the cemetery progress check out their web site at: www.sampsonveternsmemorialcemetery.com.

The pictures shown below show the sign that has been placed at the entrance to the proposed cemetery.

Tom Kirk
Cemetery Committee Member
SAFBVA Member Number 1689

NOZZOLIO BILL TO ESTABLISH VETERANS’ CEMETERY SIGNED INTO LAW
Cemetery to be Established at Former Sampson Naval and Air Force Base
Albany - State Senator Michael Nozzolio (R-Fayette) and State Assemblyman Joseph D. Morelle (D-Irondequoit) have announced that their joint legislation to establish a Veterans’ cemetery at the former Sampson Naval and Air Force Base in Seneca County has been signed into New York State law by Governor Spitzer. The legislation was adopted by the Legislature last month.“This is a great day for all veterans, who are America’s true heroes,” said Senator Nozzolio.